Automating email with MS outlook

[Welshlad]

At work we currently have a large number of client email addresses stored in a database. Every now and then we produce e-mail mail-shots which are becoming an increasing burden due to the growing number of addresses. I've been entrusted with solving this into a partly automated solution.
Extracting the names & addresses out of the database is not a problem, but I then need some sort of procedure that will generate an email to all the addresses in the file (probably a CSV file or something) and fire them off using Microsoft Outlook. It only needs to be a single generic email CC'd to all recipients for example – nothing fancy required to start.

I’m just at the feasibility stage at the moment so details are a bit sketchy, but I was wondering what is the best method to achieve this?

Cheers

[Chris Locke]

Outlook (the newer versions) don't like being automated to produce emails, to prevent rogue applications spewing out emails left, right and centre.
Additionally, an email to 'fred' and CC'd to 200 people will be classed as spam by many spam filters (which 90% of companies now have) so may not reach their destination - depending on what that company does with their spam (many don't see the light of day...)

Bulk email programs therefore send out individual emails, and talk directly to an SMTP server - either your ISP or work Exchange server.

There are many freeware bulk email programs available, which can talk directly to databases quite happily. I can't recommend any off the top of my head, as we wrote our own at work. I'd check NoNags (nonags.com) as they have a great library of freeware.

Do you have to use Outlook? If so, you can do it, but I can't see any great advantage in doing so.

[Welshlad]

No, doesn't have to use outlook at all. Its just the email software we use at work so I assumed it would provide the easiest solution. I can use any method that achieves the solution really....

[Len]

How about an E-Mail based mail merge using word? I have used this method before and it's quick to setup and easy for any user to operate after that.

[davebinnie]

I presume you don't run your own Exchange server. That's why you are CC'ing your contacts. Business Contacts Manager for Outlook does make life a little easier when sending mass emails.

I don't use BCM as we have our own Exchange server but I presume that it supports distribution lists. For example, you would simply add all of your contacts who you want to send your 'press realease' to, to a distribution lists called press release contacts. You could create your emails and save them on a shared drive so that people can get access to them. Note > All users that would be sending emails would need to have their own copy of BCM.

Have a look here for more info > Microsoft BCM (http://www.microsoft.com/office/outlook/contactmanager/prodinfo/default.mspx)